Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 37456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 187(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 187(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
It's almost like I smell him here.
My eyes drift close on a deep inhale, and memories wash over me in a warm flood.
"Papa! Papa!" I cry, scurrying into the room with my hair damp, a stuffed bear clutched beneath my arm.
Papa looks up from his chair beside the fire, a grin stretching across his face as he puffs on his pipe. "Come, ást-meer. Let Papa tell you a story before bed."
"About the Fae?" I ask, eagerly clamoring onto his lap.
"Ja, princess. Of course it's about the Fae."
"Hello?" Abigail calls again, jolting me back into the present.
My eyes flutter open, and I exhale a shaking breath. Gods. I really did live here.
A soft shuffling sound comes from the bedroom, and Abigail grabs my arm, excitement firing in her eyes.
"Please," she calls, tiptoeing toward the open door. "We won't hurt you. I think we're your sisters."
My eyes fly open wide, realization crashing through me. Kara! She thinks Kara is hiding here. Of course. Why didn't I think of that?
"Kara? My name is Marion," I call, my voice soft. "I lived here with my father, Simek, when I was little."
Another shuffling sound comes from the bedroom and then a soft voice calls out, "You knew Simek?"
Abigail exhales a relieved breath.
"Yes," I confirm. "Um, he was my father. M-my clothes are probably still in the closet in there."
Abigail and I both jolt in surprise when Kara steps into the doorway suddenly, her arms wrapped around her curvy body. She's maybe Abigail's age, with dark, glossy hair and hazel eyes.
"Kara," Abigail whispers.
Kara stares at her, caution written all over her face. "You know my name."
"My parents told me," I explain quickly. "They said that you were one of us."
"You mean a Valkyrie," she whispers.
I nod, swallowing hard.
Kara exhales a shuddering breath, staring at us. "Rand said you'd come." She licks her lips. "I just…I was beginning to believe she was wrong."
"You knew my mother?"
Kara nods. "She brought me here weeks ago. Told me to stay hidden. That someone special would be coming for me." Her gaze drifts across us. "She said I could trust you."
"You can," Abigail promises quickly. "The Forsaken have been hunting us, too. The Fae have kept us safe."
Kara's brows crinkle. "Where are Rand and Simek?"
Pain and guilt whisper through me, stealing my breath. "Gone," I choke out. "Died p-protecting me."
Sorrow floats through Kara's eyes before she reaches out, grasping my hand. Her eyes meet mine, full of compassion and understanding. "I'm sorry," she whispers. "If you were their daughter, they don't regret it. Rand told me…you were the best thing they ever did."
Tears well in my eyes. I choke them back, swallowing hard. "T-thank you."
Kara nods.
"You've been here for weeks?"
We turn to look at Abigail.
"Yes." Kara nods again. "The Forsaken attacked me at school one night. I was walking across campus and they just came out of nowhere. I thought they were going to kill me, but Rand and Simek saved me. They got me out of there, told me I should come here, and wait." She hunches her shoulders. "I was beginning to think no one was ever going to come."
"Dammit," Abigail growls, her eyes flashing with fury. "They did it again!"
"Did what?" Kara asks.
"Messed with my visions." Abigail paces in a frustrated circle, muttering her under breath. "I knew this place was familiar, but they overrode the vision, replaced it with what they wanted me to see. Instead of seeing you here, I saw you with them. I saw them…" She trails off abruptly, her gaze flickering toward Kara.
"Saw them what?"
"Killing a Valkyrie," Abigail whispers.
Kara's face drains of color. Abigail quickly grabs her hands, squeezing. "It was a false vision, Kara. They sent it to keep us from finding you. I think…well, I think they were trying to buy themselves time to find you before we did. So long as we were looking for you with them, we'd never look anywhere else."
Kara nods uncertainly, licking her lips. "Do they mess with these visions often?"
"More often than I'd prefer," Abigail mutters, a black scowl crossing her face. "They're determined to drive me mad."
"That's not true."
Abigail arches a brow at me. "It feels that way."
"They don't want you mad. They want you on their side," I say. It's nothing but the truth. The Forsaken are soulless, without mercy or compassion. "They use you, manipulate your visions simply because they can. Because they need what you know and the only way they'll ever get it is by breaking you."
But Abigail isn't easily broken. So they do this instead—send her false visions, hide the truth…whatever they can to ensure that, if her visions aren't in their control, they aren't reliable for our side, either.
"They're monsters, but they're monsters on the verge of losing," I remind Abigail. "Because despite their interference, despite their sheer numbers, and the depths they'll sink to win, we're still here. Kara is standing in front of us. The fifth Valkyrie has been found."